My Antonia by Willa Cather

Willa Cather— Biographical Information 1873—1947; was one of seven children Born in Virginia but moved to Nebraska in 1883 Father tried farming briefly but went into real estate and insurance in a town called Red Cloud

Willa Cather— Education Had never attended school until the move to Red Cloud, Nebraska at age 9 Was very impressed and moved by the dramatic environment (weather, open plains, immigrants in the area) Attended the University of Nebraska intending to be a doctor—her writing was published so she changed to an English major and later graduated

Willa Cather— Career Moved to New York and had many jobs Magazine writer Teacher Magazine editor Novelist Won the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours Critical acclaim: “Plainspoken language about ordinary people”

My Antonia: background Cather was witness to the drastic changes that happened on the U.S. Plains in 19th & 20th centuries 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations of immigrants populated the area Saw the hardships that befell the brave people who lived in the Plains

The Great Plains

Cather’s style Thoroughly realistic Pays special attention to the plight of rural and small-town women Does not neglect the idea of youths who wanted to escape their backgrounds and leave for what they considered to be a better life

Cather’s style First immigrants discussed are “Bohemians” This is an antiquated term for people who immigrated from what is now the former Czech Republic Like most immigrants of that day, the main characters and their neighboring Bohemians arrived by railroad.

Cather’s style The main characters are not necessarily applauded by Cather for triumphing over their very difficult environment but for preserving the memory and hope from where they grew up.

My Antonia: main characters Jim Burden: The narrator and protagonist of the novel, Jim is a successful lawyer who grew up in Black Hawk, Nebraska Jake Marpole: Farm hand from Virginia at the Burden place Otto Fuchs: Farm hand from Austria at the Burden place

My Antonia: main characters Ántonia "Tony" Shimerda: The bold and free-hearted young Bohemian girl who moves with her family to Black Hawk, Nebraska Mr. and Mrs. Shimerda: Ántonia's immigrant parents from Bohemia Ambrosch, Marek and Yulka: Ántonia's brothers and sister

Willa Cather’s childhood home in Red Cloud, Nebraska

The Great Plains